Thank you IDW publishing and NetGalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Fantasy at its best… The art was out of this world, the story was exciting, adventurous and it had heart. I couldn’t put this down and I feel grateful I got the chance to read, review and enjoy it!!

My favorite character was Kayla’s giant mud toad Grok. I loved him so much! The relationship between Kayla and Grok was so cute and heartwarming and it and her other old and new friends, made this very hard and dangerous world filled with monsters (beasts and humans ;)) feel a bit lighter and even fun sometimes.

Kayla is one of many war orphans and a great rider! We see her getting something Lord Sul needs for his race banquet. She’s the only one who can. Lord Sul is supposed to set her friend Mal free but he doesn’t keep his word. Kayla is a low-caste but anyone who is sponsored can enter the race, a regional qualifier for the kingdom races. She gets Lord Sul to sponsor her and if she wins, he promises to set Mal free.

Kayla’s going to race with her best friend, a giant mud toad called Grok who is quirky and honestly adorable. Very different from the giant beasts and their relentless riders, they will be riding against. The race route, the beasts and the glowing avatar they had to follow were all very impressive!! I’m not going to spoil what happened next but Kayla and Grok are so amazing and skilled and the more the story evolves, the more I got to witness how big Kayla’s heart is! She gets to meet many awesome and interesting characters along the way and we learn that the current ruler doesn’t want anyone to win the kingdom races and that someone who helped her has ulterior motives of revolution! So of course I can’t wait to read volume two!!

Thank you to NetGalley and IDW Publishing for an ARC of Kingdom Riders by Shannon Eric Denton in exchange for an honest SPOILER FREE review.

Kayla is a young and ambitious girl with big dreams of escaping a life of servitude and seeing the world, finally being able to make choices for herself instead of doing what someone else wants her to do. After making a bargain, Kayla is given an opportunity at freedom and embarks on an incredible journey with her best friend to forge their own story.

This is a great graphic novel that will appeal to all age groups and is suitable for budding new readers looking to get into fantasy for the first time. A very easy read with good prose and an intriguing storyline that keeps the pages turning. This is going to be the beginning of a great new graphic novel series, lots of magic and mystery with a fun twist on what is considered a "hero" in this world. World building is good, and I look forward to follow up books to see how it develops.

Overall, I think this books target audience is for younger readers and is completely appropriate with no gore, foul language, explicit references or violence. I enjoyed the story and will definitely pick up any sequel books to find out what has happened with these characters and to see where their journey takes them.

This was a fun read about a girl who adventures and works for the high castle noble. After her friend's sentence is extended for something she didn't do she makes a deal with the high castle noble that if she wins a race her friend will be free. After she wins the race things for her and her friend change and they go on an adventure of a lifetime. Can't wait to read more of this series.

Race through an exciting and dangerous fantasy world on the back of a toad in this wildly original combination of Hunger Games and Amulet.

What an enjoyable graphic novel! Well-written and well-illustrated, perfect for fantasy fans everwhere!

Girl power, selflessness, family, doing the right thing no matter what the cost. This graphic novel touches on all these subjects, accompanied by some amazing action illustrations. The graphics reminded me of He Man and Masters of the Universe cartoon from the 80s/90s. I could definitely see this adapted for the screen. Looking forward to reading more about Kayla and her team of riders.

Netgalley Review

Star Rating: ★★★★★

I really enjoyed this one! Definitely a conceptvi hadn't read before. The main character is a Fiesty ornery girl that we still don't know a lot about and I'm excited to see what secrets she's hiding. The side characters are also really fantastic! Even though we didn't get to see much of the big bad guy, you see enough of him that you get a good idea of what to expect from him. Really glad I got this ARC it was great!

Like always read it and decide for yourself!

How do I explain how much I love this book and this world? I NEED A SEQUEL IMMEDIATELY.
Ok, ok, listen up. Grok the mud toad is the cutest thing to come along since I don't-even-know-what. The bond between Kayla (the main character) and Grok is enviable. And wouldn't you rather ride an awesome, leaping, tongue-slurping MUD TOAD than some old dragon?? I know I sure would. Although to be fair, all the other riders' animals are super-cool too. Plus all the non-rider animals that inhabit the world and just amble around the pages, nonchalantly showing up to add even more magical verisimilitude to this already whimsically wonderful world. It makes me think of the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender (the original animated show).
The art is also top-notch. It's got enough detail that it doesn't feel like a lot of the bare-background comics being churned out now due to shortening timelines, but the linework and detailing is all well-chosen so it never feels busy or messy. And the lettering is spot-on throughout.
Characters - oh, the characters! Even the minor characters have personality quirks and unexpected moments. Kayla is endearing without being obnoxiously perfect (or obnoxiously imperfect in that sort of perfect way...you know what I'm talking about). She's hot-headed and a little full of herself, which is just what she needs to be in order to be able to pull this off.
Pull what off, you ask? GO READ THE BOOK. You can thank me afterward.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this eARC for unbiased review.

Rating: 4 stars

Kingdom Riders is a graphic novel aimed at children age 9–12 years. I would highly recommend it for kids around that age but even as an early 30s adult I very much enjoyed it. I will most definitely read the next volume in the series if there is one.

The plot felt very reminiscent of 90s cartoons I use to watch. The summary of this book says it’s similar to the Hunger Games and at first I felt this comparison was a little strong but the similarities became more apparent as the story went on.

The characters were a highlight of the book for me especially the main character, Kayla. She is a very admirable and likeable protagonist. I loved Kayla’s friendship with Mal and the beginning of her friendship with her teammates who were all great characters. I know my younger self would have been enamoured by a few of the them. Some of the speeches and discussions with each other were very motivational which I hope inspire any child that reads this book.

The art of the novel is easy to follow and I’m sure that was no small feat when it came to illustrating races. The character and creature designs stood out the most though. Very fantasy and drew me into the story immediately.

Kingdom Riders I’d rate a solid 4 stars. I always enjoyed myself and felt eager to read the next part. I have a feeling my younger self (around the age rating of 9-12) would have rated it 4.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and IDW Publishing for granting me an Advance Reader Copy. All opinions are honest and my own.

This is a fantasy graphic novel and a highly action packed read. You follow Kayla and her wonderful sidekick Grok, a larger than life frog, on some risky ventures. Kayla's friend, Mal, finds herself in a difficult situation. Kayla tries to help and signs up for the Kingdom Races, which she new nothing about, in hopes it will help her best friend, Mal. Kayla is willing to risk her life as a rider and shows what riding with honor really means. This was such a great read, loved everything about it. So many unexpected characters and paths that developed throughout the story. I highly recommend this highly adventurous graphic novel where you never know where the story will take you. If you love a highly competitive fantasy this is your story.

I'm so greatful to have received this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Truly worth the read! #KingdomRiders #NetGalley.

I initially equested this book for my son,but in the end we both enjoyed so,so much the story.
We loved how loyal and selfless Kayla is, even though she's been through so much herself.
Team Kayla & Grok!!!

I love the art style in this book so much. The animals are adorable, the actions scenes are easy to follow. The story is engaging and fun.

This was fun! Consistently good art, likeable characters, and an intriguing plot all add up to an exciting start to this new series.

Thanks to NetGalley for sending me an ARC of this graphic novel.

Kingdom Riders felt like watching an episode of a cartoon I would have watched when I was younger. The art was fun and vibrant and the story was fast-paced. I found some of the pages to be a little cluttered and hard to follow and that hampered my overall enjoyment of the story. Also, though Grok was adorable, I was very distracted by all of the written interpretations of Grok's noises. He is a giant toad and instead of a croak or a ribbit, the author made up a variety of other sounds like, "grobbit" or "brobbit." I don't know why I found them so distracting, but they always took me out of the story.

Despite those issues I did have fun with this overall and I do think I would read more by this author. This story ended in the midst of the action, so I would like to read a continuation of the story.

Kayla and Grok superiority! A super fun and interesting read with great graphics, storyline, and characters you root for at every turn of the page. Grok and Kayla are such a dynamic, hilarious duo it's hard to not love the antics they get up to. The characters are also loveable and hateable in certain instances as Kayla navigates living as a peasant and the dangerous world of racing she's forced into. It gave me a mix of Hunger Games / Sonic X vibes but I think it's appropriate for all ages.

Thanks to IDW and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This story is epic! It's like I'm watching a show I can't look away from and love energy second of it! Finding a comic with plot, art, characters, and content that I love is pretty difficult. Especially when trying to find one that's a 5 on the pristine rating scale. But this one did it, and I'm living for it!
We have two girls living as indentured servants on a farm. We meet Kayla as she journeys into the dangerous forest that most people avoid. She has a giant toad friend there who she rides to journey through the forest to get hard to find items for her owner.  When they realize paying off their debts will be impossible, Kayla makes a bet if she wins the race qualifier for her lord due and her friend go free. Debts paid.
The race is deadly. Reminds me of the speeder races in Star Wars, but with cool fantasy creatures instead.

When Kayla wins her and her friend are free, but now what? As war orphans they have no home, no food, no money. So when a rich old farmer asks Kayla to join his team of riders and continue with the races she agrees. Her and Mal are off on a new adventure. At the farm they make new friends, learn about all kinds of magic, see the world, and of course continue to race.
I love the found family that seems to be forming in this story.
I love the found family that seems to be forming in this story.
We are left on a cliff hanger with much bigger stakes at play than Kayla currently realizes. You see the race is supposed to be for finding the next emperorl like rulers of the land. Riders former teams of three, the winning trio becomes the next rulers  together. A checks and balance system to replace the current emperor who came into power by war. But for decades, no one has won. Perhaps because the current emperor/ khan doesn't want them to? And there may be an magical reason for why Kayla is so good with animals. I'm hoping that means we'll see more magic in the next volume.

A fantasy comic that has Hunger Games meets racing Pokemon type vibe. Great for readers young and old. I can happily recommend this new series.

I really loved this story. The frog is seriously the cutest critter ever. If nothing else, read this so you can see all of his facial expressions. It's a very interesting story of a girl who gets involved in a national racing competition, each rider with a different mount. There's a lot going on in the background (looking forward to volume 2) but it's full of friendship and hope. Very fun read for slightly older ages.

In the Kingdom Riders, Kayla must enter in a race to help a friend.
I had some fun with this story. It was an interesting world that I would read more adventures in.
The artwork was excellent. It was probably my favorite part of the book.
The story was great, as well. Kayla and her friends were likeable and relatable.
My 12 year old son looked over my shoulder while I was reading this and now he wants to read it, as well. He doesn’t read much, so I think that’s high praise.

Kayla, a disinterested peasant, becomes entangled in the high-stakes Kingdom Races when her best friend Mal faces trouble. To rescue Mal, Kayla must participate as a rider, unaware of the far-reaching consequences.

The overall narrative of this story captivated me with its intrigue and excitement. The art is nothing short of incredible, skillfully welcoming readers into a visually stunning world. Every detail is eye-catching, making the entire experience thoroughly engaging. I highly recommend this read for both its compelling story and the visually appealing journey it offers!

Reading Kingdom Riders feels like revisiting a show you've forgotten from childhood. It's remarkably nostalgic, while still feeling fresh, new, and perfect for a new generation of kids and young adults.

Kingdom Riders follows Kayla, a peasant girl who lives in a small village outside a larger central kingdom. Kayla is content with her life in the village, and never thinks twice about entering the famous Kingdom Races, even though the winning would change her village life. Peasants aren’t accepted in the races without a high-born sponsor anyway. When Kayla’s best Mal gets herself in trouble, Kayla knows the only way out is for her to enter her local race. What follows is an adventure full of action, politics, and lots of awesome creatures.

Kingdom Riders is a gorgeous graphic novel that packs a punch. Though it feels familiar at times, Kingdom Riders manages to still feel unique throughout. There are pieces of stories you’ve probably heard before. There's a fate-changing competition, a girl from a lowly village, and a forest full of outlaws. However, Kingdom Riders often eschews conventions. Could Kayla have had a beautiful racing animal passed down from her parents? You might expect that. But, no. She has a giant, colorful mudtoad.

Art:

The art in Kingdom Riders is marvelous. Sometimes colorful, sometimes fantastical, but always beautifully rendered on page. The art betters the story but doesn’t overwhelm the story or the themes. This is a great example of the writer and artist being a perfect match.

Final Thoughts:

I really enjoyed Kingdom Riders. It's an excellent middle-grade graphic novel that somehow manages to evoke a sense of nostalgia while feeling fresh. Hopefully, we see more in this series in the future.

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Thanks to IDW for providing me with a review copy. All the above thoughts are my own.

** The review will go live on Back Shelf Books on May 8th, 2024.

A young orphaned girl enters a race that no one has ever won to earn freedom for herself and her friend.